CHICOPEE — A number of side streets in the city did not see a plow until mid-morning Saturday because the intensity of Friday's snowstorm overwhelmed the smaller plow trucks and at least four got stuck and had to be towed.

“The problem with the smaller trucks is there is so much snow they can't push the stuff,” said Steve Frederick, acting Department of Public Works superintendent. “They couldn't do it and they got stuck.”

In the most intense part of the storm, between about 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., the DPW started teaming up the smaller trucks with the larger ones to at least clear the main roads. They also tried clear the side streets, but soon they had to return to the main roads so they wouldn't get too far behind, Frederick said.

On Saturday, trucks were focusing on making sure all the side streets were passable and sanding and salting main routes. Most of the unplowed streets are off Springfield Street and in the Willimansett section of the city, and Frederick said he was hoping they would be cleared soon.

“We are keeping at it. Hopefully by this afternoon we will have everything opened up,” he said.

He is planning to send everyone home to sleep by Saturday evening, since most operators have been working since 7 a.m. Friday. On Sunday, they will return to more thoroughly clear the streets.

With a prediction of rain on Monday, Frederick said he is also assigning people to make sure catch basins are clear.

Despite the intense storm, he said there were few other problems. Only 60 cars had to be towed because they were violating the parking ban, and most people stayed off the roads, making it easier for operators to clear the streets.

On his Facebook page, Mayor Michael D. Bissonnette urged people to be patient and warned them things will not be back to normal until Monday at the earliest.

“We only have so many plows for 1,100 streets to deal with almost two feet of snow,” he said. “Everyone should plan on roads not being clear until tonight and/or tomorrow in some cases.”

He also told people to expect their driveways to get plowed in and to stay off the roads to make the cleanup possible.

Frederick said the time it is taking to clean up after the storm is rare. Typically it takes six to eight hours to finish plowing streets after a typical snow.